Two players who last represented their countries eight years ago are set for dramatic returns to international football at the World Cup. Togo striker Bachirou Salou and Ghana defender Eric Addo from Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven are on the brink of being named for next month's tournament in Germany

The pair, from neighbouring countries, made their last international appearances at the 1998 African Nations Cup finals, Salou at the height of his powers and Addo as a wide-eyed teenager thrust in at the deep end.

Salou's possible comeback draws parallels with the surprise inclusion of Cameroon forward Roger Milla for both the 1990 and 1994 World Cup finals, long after he had retired from professional football.

Arguably Togo's most famous footballing export, Salou consistently rejected call-ups from his country while he was at clubs like Borussia Dortmund, MSV Duisburg and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Now at the age of 35, however, he finds himself named in a 27-man squad for a warm-up match against Saudi Arabia in the Netherlands on Sunday.

His last international was in the Nations Cup finals in Burkina Faso eight years ago.

It was also the last time Addo played for Ghana but he has bounced back into contention with his performances this season, helping PSV easily retain the Dutch league title and reach last Sunday's cup final.

TEENAGE PRODIGY

Now 27, Addo has made just three appearances for his country, all at the 1998 Nations Cup when he was a teenage prodigy at Belgium's Club Brugge.

He moved with coach Eric Gerets to PSV in 1999 but a succession of injuries and a loss of form dimmed his profile he missed out on the opportunity to add to his three caps.

But Ghana's Ratomir Dujkovic watched Addo in action this year and has used him in two friendlies against club opposition in Europe, including a 3-0 defeat by French Ligue 1 club Nice last Tuesday.

The defender is likely to make the final 23 for the World Cup finals which the Ghana Football Association said it intends to name on Friday.

Salou's lack of playing time might make his case a little more difficult. He has been featuring in the occasional game at Rhine-based amateur club SC Kapellen but spent recent weeks travelling around Europe scouting potential World Cup competitors with new Togo coach Otto Pfister.

Salou, like Addo an international debutant at 17, was also at the Nations Cup finals in Egypt this year as an adviser to the Togolese delegation.

Six years earlier he was picked to play for Togo in the 2000 Nations Cup finals in Ghana but failed to turn up with the event, accused of sulking because of criticism of previous performances in Togo.

Togo's squad is expected to be named on Monday before their match against Saudi Arabia in Sittard.